Nano-Scale Clusters Formed in the Early Stage of Phase Decomposition of Al-Mg-Si Alloys

Abstract:

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The formation of nano-scale clusters (nanoclusters) prior to the precipitation of the strengthening b” phase significantly influences two-step aging behavior of Al-Mg-Si alloys. In this work, the existence of two kinds of nanoclusters has been verified in the early stage of phase decomposition by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP). Pre-aging treatment at 373K before natural aging was also found to form preferentially one
of the two nanoclusters, resulting in the remarkable restoration of age-hardenability at paint-bake temperatures. Such microstructural control by means of optimized heat-treatments; i.e. nanocluster assist processing (NCAP), possesses great potential for enabling Al-Mg-Si alloys to be used more widely as a body-sheet material of automobiles.

Abstract: The present work has investigated precipitation behavior in an Al-17at%Mg alloy isothermally aged at 373K and 473K, by means of Vickers micro-hardness tests, DSC measurements and TEM observations. The present DSC measurements have revealed that the metastable β′-phase precipitates mainly contributed to precipitation hardening of this alloy in isothermal aging at 373K and 473K. The TEM observations have confirmed that the β ' phase precipitates were formed in the {001} planes of Al matrices in platelet shapes.

Abstract: The effect of natural aging, pre-aging and paint-bake aging technology on properties of Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Zr-Er alloy for auto sheets was investigated by performance testing, microstructure observation, and differential thermal analysis. The results showed that the natural aging alloy before and after paint-bake aging presented the double peaks feature of both the mechanical properties and hardness, the maximum value of strength and hardness appeared on the second aging peak, and the paint-bake aging softening occurred. The result of differential thermal analysis showed that, compared with the artificial aging, the precipitation of β′′ phase was delayed after the natural aging; the precipitates were mainly β′′ nuclei at the paint-bake aging, and it is difficult to achieve paint-bake aging hardening. After pre-aging and nature aging treatment, the precipitates were mainly composed of β′′ phase at the paint-bake aging, and the paint-bake aging hardening was realized. The addition of Er and Zr elements accelerated the precipitation of β′′ phase, the precipitation temperature of β′′ phase reduced and the time of the first natural aging peak and pre-aging was shortened. The parameters of pre-aging treatment of alloy sheets was solution and water quenching, and then age at 170 °C for 5 min.

Abstract: Two-stage aging treatments were applied to Al-6Si-2Cu-0.5Mg casting alloy, and the influence of aging treatment parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. The experimental results indicated that the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-6Si-2Cu-0.5Mg alloy were significantly influenced by the aging time and temperature, and the elongation remarkably increased with the aging time increasing before 7 h. In the case of the alloy aged at 200°Cfor 2h, higher hardness and tensile strength were obtained, which may be attributed to precipitation of a large amount of Cu-rich phases. However, the higher elongation was achieved in the alloy under 200°C aging treatment for 5h, while its hardness and tensile strength slightly decreased. It is mainly due to the amount of the Cu-rich phases decrease slightly, but the morphology of the phases evolved from plate-like to bulk-like structure.